What I learned as an intern at the Winnipeg Free Press Nadya Pankiw — a summer intern — reflects on her time at the paper By: Nadya Pankiw Posted: 7:00 PM CDT Friday, Aug. 30, 2019

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 30/08/2019 (2245 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Four years ago I set out on a journey of storytelling.

I wanted to share stories about the human experience, learn more about the world around me and determine what events were worth caring about. Over the past four years I attended Carleton University in Ottawa, pursuing a Bachelor of Journalism degree. With the degree hanging on my wall, boxes of journalism textbooks filling up my mother’s basement and an offer to intern at the Winnipeg Free Press for the summer of 2019, I felt prepared and confident for the world of reporting.

Now, after spending the last three months diving pen, notepad, and recorder-first into the local news scene, it’s time to share the five lessons I have learned in this fast-paced and changing industry.

1. Age is but a number

At 21 years old standing at a staggering 5-2, it was no surprise that I was the youngest (even among the other interns) in the newsroom. Despite the arts department referencing old films I had never seen, I realized that sometimes being young offers its own advantages. It is an opportunity to be curious, ask a lot of questions and even share nuances in social media that less tech-savvy editors weren’t familiar with.

These meaningful interactions were the birthplace for story ideas, different perspectives and oftentimes, much needed advice from well-seasoned reporters who have seen it all.

2. Read all about it!

Whatever hour the shift starts, it is almost a guarantee a press release, tip, or door-knocking assignment will be sitting at my desk, waiting to be written about. As an intern, there are no restrictions as to what you may cover. Assignments can range from calling a millionaire to discuss a recent donation, to attending an NFL tailgate party, to even writing about rooftop beehives. Of course, there will be assignments that may not seem exciting, but sometimes sources can unexpectedly share a colourful quote, or provide information for other stories.

In moments like these, it is important to be adaptable. As the news cycle continues to rotate, every day is an opportunity to start from scratch. On the other side of things, there is no shame to seek out opportunities to write about topics with passion. Pitch, pitch, and pitch again until your byline is in the section that feels most like home.

3. Punctuation problems

Almost every reporter and editor in the newsroom owns a Canadian Press Stylebook and Caps and Spelling book. The books are seen sitting, sometimes scattered on desks, with dog eared pages and worn spines and act as a looming reminder it doesn’t matter how long reporters have been writing — typos or grammatical errors can still occur. Realizing the name behind the byline could be someone you share a cubicle wall with proves we are all humans trying our best to meet our deadlines.

Sometimes, when editors have a moment to share, they come by the interns’ desks and go over recently submitted stories to discuss improvements. In moments like these, it is hard not to feel badly about your writing as many journalists are perfectionists and strive for success. But remember, your work is also your editor’s work. The time they take to review each article to ensure it is fit to print is just as valuable as the time it took for the journalist to write the article.

Constructive criticism goes a long way if you are willing to listen.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

The Scoop

A weekly round-up of news and analysis for post-secondary students who subscribe to the Free Press.

Sign up for The Scoop

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

4. Sources are(n’t) scary

The majority of reporting involves a lot of phone calls, introductions and tough questions. Some days are spent chatting with government officials, while others are spent talking to business owners or even people attending a public event. Just because I am a journalist does not mean I have overcome my fear of rejection. And really, while the worst thing a potential interview subject could say is “no comment,” it can be a roadblock to completing a story or understanding an issue.

5. New dogs should learn old tricks

Despite studying and practicing the art of journalism for four years at an academic institution, the newsroom naturally offers the most immersive and conducive environment to embrace and refine j-school skills. Whether it’s by overhearing a colleague’s interview questions or taking the time to flip through the paper to read other reporters’ work, there is ample knowledge in the newsroom to help foster critical thinking skills and a drive for informing the public.

There’s no doubt that the world of journalism is evolving, yet internships remain the perfect opportunity to blend the past, present, and future of the industry.

When I was young(-er), I spent Saturday flipping through the Winnipeg Free Press to find the comics section. As my appetite for news has grown beyond the “funnies,” it has been an absolute privilege to spend the summer in what many of my university professors said would be “the last newsroom standing in Canada.”

nadya.pankiw@freepress.mb.ca

Nadya Pankiw
Multimedia producer

Nadya Pankiw is a multimedia producer at the Free Press. Nadya holds a Bachelor of Journalism from Carleton University and a Master of Publishing from Simon Fraser University.  She joined the paper in 2020. Read more about Nadya.

Nadya is part of a team that curates and publishes journalism on our websites, apps and social media. It’s part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.